3
Ryan
Iwokeup in the middle of the night on the day of Russell’s party with a heavy worry; was I a toy or a charity project forRussell?
I got online to see if April or Kim were around. I knew it was late, but the two of them were night owls so there was a good chance at least one of them would be around. I opened our chat box and both of them werethere.
Ryan:Hey.
Kim: Ryan, you’re on late. Is everythingokay?
April: Spill it, Ry-guy.
Ryan: I couldn’tsleep.
April: How are things withRussell?
Ryan: Things are going well. His party is tomorrow. Or tonight, I guess, since it’s aftermidnight.
Kim: I bet that will befun.
Ryan: Yeah, but I’m not ready toplay.
Kim: Ready, orwant?
Ready or want? What was thatinsinuating?
April: Have there been any more fingers close to forbiddenplaces?
I laughed out loud when I sawthat.
Ryan: No. No more blindfolds and fingers touching me. But I don’t think I’m ready to play with anyone else. I mean, no one else knows me likethat.
April: Um, yeah, I don’t think that’s anissue.
Ryan:Why?
April: I’m pretty sure he’s not going to have you playing withanyone.
Ryan: It’s not likethat.
April: Then tell me how itis.
I didn’t know. I sat back in bed and refrained from typing because I really didn’t know about anything beyond the apprenticeship and ourfriendship.
Ryan: We’re friends and I’m hisapprentice.
There was nothing else there. I was sure of it. Pretty sure of it. I went about my day and talked to Russell for a little bit. I was nervous about his party. Russell said there’d be a few different people at this one, but he assured me that I had nothing to worry about. He told me to dress comfortably and arrive by 8:00.
Mostly, I was nervous and unsure about my place. I was pretty sure I was nothing more than his friend and apprentice. But each time I had myself believing that, I was reminded of our recent Sunday. It was intense, to say the least. He had touched me like no person had ever touched me. There was so much care in the way he touched me, too. No one could touch another human like that without feeling something. Right? But then again, I knew nothing of love. Each time I thought I’d had it, I had beenburned.
I fussed around with my clothes, and after three changes, I settled on a gray checkered button-down shirt, black pants and made my way to the party. His street was lined with cars, but I was able to park pretty close to his house thanks to my ability to parallelpark.
Russell opened the door with a smile and greeted me by gripping myshoulder.
“Ryan, I’m glad you’re here,” hesaid.
His eyes wandered down my frame and backup.
